Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder and former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s organising skills are needed by the Government.
Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication Presidential Task Force Head Basil Rajapaksa, who left for the United States on May 12 on a personal visit, returned to the country on Thursday (June 24).
Minister Ranatunga told the media in Gampaha on Thursday (June 24) that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa is an excellent organiser. “From the time we took over the Government, we received his contribution for victory at all elections. When the Incumbent Prime Minister and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in 2015, he accepted responsibility for that.
Generally, although there are many claimants during victory, there is no one to accept responsibility in times of defeat. As much as he accepted that responsibility, he organised everything to gain victory again. The Minister said, “SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa was abroad during the last couple of weeks due to personal reasons and we are happy that he has returned to Sri Lanka. His strength is needed in certain matters. Rajapaksa is neither a MP nor a Minister, but if his advice is sought, he will gladly help.”
Protest
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on Tuesday (June 22) conducted a protest campaign against the fuel price hike. SJB MPs arrived at the Parliament roundabout in vehicles, including three-wheelers, backhoes, vans and motorcycles carrying placards.
The Opposition lawmakers were carrying placards with slogans like ‘Dan Sapa Da?’ ‘Anduwa Marai – Duwala Hamarai,’ ‘Thel Mila Ahasata – Janathawa Walapallata’. During the parade, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told the media that the Government is adding to the public’s burdens instead of providing solutions to their hardships.
He said, “This Government has failed to fulfil even the minor needs of the people. They cannot even provide Thriposha for children and pregnant women. We have submitted a No-Confidence Motion to the Speaker against the Energy Minister.” After the procession arrived at the Parliament roundabout, the protestors walked into the Parliament premises to attend Tuesday’s parliamentary session. The protest was carried out under the supervision of SJB Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
The SJB also staged a protest in Parliament on Wednesday (June 23) against the recent fuel price hike. The protesting SJB members accused the Government of failing to prevent the fuel price hike. The SJB members held placards and slogans while some of the MPs sat on the floor of the House during the protest.
The protesting MPs created a commotion in the House during Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi’s speech. SJB Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara told the Parliament that they were not satisfied with the responses given by Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the fuel price hike. The SJB MPs urged the Speaker to ensure that Ministers provide responses to the questions posed.
State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament that the Opposition criticises the Government’s mechanism on managing the pandemic without providing any proposals or solutions.
He said, “The Opposition levels generalised criticism as if there is no pandemic in the country. We like to clarify that many of the crises we are facing economically and socially are directly or indirectly connected to the pandemic. This is a global crisis. When the new Government came to power, it had to shoulder an economy which was already suffering major shocks.”
“There are always Governments that hinder the country’s economy, such as the one led by former President J.R. Jayewardene, and the previous Yahapalana Government. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa strengthened the economy before it saw a decline after the Yahapalana Government took over in 2015,” he said.
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn-in
Former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as a member of Parliament before the Speaker on Wednesday (June 23). He reentered the Parliament as a national List MP of the UNP. After the official oath / affirmation taken before the Speaker, he signed the Member Roll kept before the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake.
Wickremesinghe had been requested by a number of parties to be nominated for the National List seat to fill the gap left by the absence of a strong Opposition in Parliament. The former Premier was named for the National List seat of the UNP after a prolonged period where the party did not name a candidate for the vacancy.
Wickremesinghe was nominated at the party’s Working Committee meeting recently, following several rounds of discussions on the matter. Parliamentarian Wickremasinghe, who was first elected to Parliament from the UNP in 1977, holds the record of being representing the Sri Lankan Parliament for 42 years consecutively up until the eighth Parliament and also holds the record for holding office as the Prime Minister of the country. He has held a number of positions as a Cabinet Minister, including being the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition.
NCM
The SJB sponsored No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila was presented to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana on Tuesday (June 22). The NCM was handed over by Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella. Last week, 43 Members of Parliament representing the SJB signed a 10-point Motion of No Confidence against Minister Gammanpila. This includes failing in his duty of obtaining Cabinet approval for the fuel price hike. It alleged that the Energy Minister had proceeded to increase fuel prices without the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers and thereby violated a pledge under the Constitution.
Pandemic
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the House after taking oaths as the only UNP parliamentarian in the Chamber, said that the legislature should be given the task of managing the Covid-19 pandemic. Wickremasinghe pointed out that the Task Force appointed to manage the pandemic has failed and crucial management decisions should be taken by the Cabinet and Parliament.
Wickremasinghe said, “This Task Force managing the pandemic is a complete failure. If we listened to the speech of the Minister of Health, we would know where we are and what we are doing. We cannot move forward with this Task Force. According to our Constitution this responsibility should be with the Cabinet. Parliament is accountable to the Cabinet.”
“Why can’t we hand over this matter to the Cabinet? The WHO also has a separate team of experts. It does not exist in Sri Lanka. There is a Committee and it has been handed over to a department head. The Army Commander is a Head of a Department. How does he do this work? Only a Minister or the Cabinet can issue orders to Ministry Secretaries,” he said.
Presidential pardon
Former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva who was serving a death sentence over murder charges was granted a “special presidential pardon” on Poson Poya day (June 24). Silva was released on June 24 morning in addition to 93 prison inmates including 16 ex-LTTE combatants who were also pardoned by the President. Duminda Silva, along with two others, was sentenced to death over the murder charge of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra by the Colombo High Court and the decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
However, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting to make the public aware of the basis on which Duminda Silva was selected for the pardon under Article 34(1) of the Constitution.
The BASL states that it is the right of the public to know whether the said pardon has been granted in accordance with the report of the trial judges, the opinion of the Attorney General and the recommendation of the Justice Minister.
The BASL requests the President to convey the circumstances which were taken into consideration in the granting of such pardon and the reasons as to why the case of Duminda Silva stands out from others who are currently sentenced.
“Proud to be a dog”
SLPP National List MP Dr. Suren Raghavan said that he is a dog licking the boots of the present Government and that he is proud of it. Raghavan was responding to an allegation made by TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran in Parliament on Wednesday (June 23).
Raghavan said, “Yes, I am a dog licking the boots of the present Government. I am very proud to be a dog to protect my state than to be a mercenary who supports separatism and supports murderous terrorism.”
PTA
Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, said that the Government is looking at how the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) could be revised to ensure the protection of those detained under this law without compromising National Security. He said, “We should not politicise this issue and we should all stop pointing fingers at one another. In this issue, we should all come together in finding a solution that is fair to all. We know what the previous regime did by appointing various committees which eventually resulted in taking revenge. But we are not going to take revenge from anyone.”
Speaking after Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa’s statement on the plight of those detained over long periods under the PTA, Minister Sabry said the Government aims at handling this issue in accordance with criminal laws. He said, “Minister Rajapaksa raised a very pertinent issue. We believe that action should be taken against any perpetrator in accordance with the law.”
Referring to some LTTE cases, he said that certain prisoners had been held in detention over a long period and after charges had been filed against them and they were sentenced, it was evident that they had spent a longer period incarcerated, far exceeding their sentence. Minister Sabry said, “Hence, our intention is to find a solution to this issue in accordance with the principles of Buddhism and all other religions. We have no intention of taking revenge.”
Prior to the Justice Minister’s response, former Justice Minister and SJB MP Rauff Hakeem alleged that injustice was being committed under the PTA. “People like Hejaaz Hizbullah are still in custody. The Human Rights Commissioner levelled huge allegations in Geneva regarding the various atrocities being committed by misusing the provisions of the PTA. This will eventually result in the loss of the GSP concessions.”
Divulapitiya UNP organiser and former Provincial Councillor Dr. Kithsiri Manchanayake said a group of SJB members are in fear of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s re-entry to Parliament. He told a press conference at the UNP Headquarters recently, that Wickremesinghe’s re-entry to Parliament is a blessing to Parliament as he is among the very few politicians with a vast political experience.
He said that Wickremesinghe is coming to Parliament again with the objective of forming a UNP Government in 2024 by discharging the duties expected of the Opposition.
“Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe does not have any intention to strengthen the Government which is going astray. He will discharge the duties expected by the people from the Opposition,” Manchanayake said, adding that Wickremesinghe initially did not have any intention of becoming a Member of Parliament again.